Project MUSE - The Ballad of Emmett Till Emmett Louis Till, fir-first class!The Birds announce my arrivalThou didst make meShow me my rival! Brim upturnedBlonde Panama strawWith a green exotic featherStill say Caw-caw-caw-CAW CAW CAW! New pantsNever been wornWhite buck shoes!Not a scuff on'em New shoes! Man!White bucks! D__m! Uncle Mose say, "Uh uh uh Mississippi?This this is someone you should know.This my nephew, Buh-BoBo!" "So, so, so," she say.So so how long you gonna be around?" Uh cuh-cuh—Uh Uh ck-cuh-uh ck-cuh cuh, uh ck-ck uh uh uh ck cuhcuh-cuh— ((o))! A couple of weeks. Okay, okay, Oh oh oh oh KAY!So you're short and you stutter.Duh-deal with it or let it get in your way. [End Page 645] talk Will you stand still? Lemme take the shot. Stop talkin'.

Man, Talkin' is my favorite thing tuh do.I love Taw-tuh-taw-taw-talkTalking to people, talking bout people, talking back to people, talkingto myselfNegroes love talkin' Talking LOUD, talking soft, fresh talk, fast talk, talkin' shit.That, too!Tryin' to find the words I'm just sayin'I'll talk to anybody NobodyEverybody, even you That's damned white of youWe got a natural poetry Nigga pleaseIronic "Don't make me come up there!"Concise Well!Descriptive Fit to be tied—I'm fittin tuh go!Talk talk talk talkin in tonguesTalk talk talk talkin drums Talk talk talk talkin in tongues Talk talk talk talkin drums Talk talk talk talkin in tongues Talk talk talk talkin drumsEmmett Till, Emmett Till, Emmett TillWhy cain't you be still? Talk talk talk talkin in tongues Talk talk talk talkin drumsEmmett Till, Emmett Till, Emmett TillWhy cain't you be still? [End Page 646] Gallu nda gallu gallu nda Kah ka kakakakaka KAH!

Talk talk talk talkin in tongues Ndunnya nda ndunnya Mo biya ka bo Talk talk talk talkin drums Talking drums Speakin into bein Rhythm, sound, the song of itLife— The Way it feels fresh in your mouth, The taste of it! Rhymin, Signin, Signifyin, Cryin, Testifyin! Tellin stories! Like it is! Lies sometimes . . . Tales! Tall tales! Tell the truth now.Wise crackin', lip smackin', gum poppin', non-stop TALK! Tell it! Emmett Louis Till, fir-fir-first class. He was a good boy. Rode the bus for an hour to attend church. Every Sunday!Argo Temple Church of God in Christ—Founded in my grandmama's living room.How I'mo NOT guh-go?! He lost no time making up for lost time. SsssTumbled into his teens with a bang. Compensating for his stammer with a swagger and a stare. Using his eyes. Those beautiful eyes . . . Not quite brown. Not quite hazel. Golden Opal Like two copper pennies See in the dark, man,Like a cat!

He liked money. Money and fine things. He's a Leo, you know. A Leo cannot live without pride. [End Page 650] Uncle Mose Now if you was to make up a righteous man,what better name could you pick?Preachuh!Mose Wright! Preachuh, Preachuh . . . So Uncle Mose comes for a visit.He come out to Argo, where I used tolive fore I moved to the city. Argo, Illinois . . .They still growing Victory Gardens and it's nineteen fifty-fiiiive! Chicago—Argo, Car—Cow, Groove—Goat, Fast n . . . Un-cuh, Uncle MOSE! You know you wrong. Uncle Mose wasn't preaching any more but people still looked to him for the Word. He came up to deliver a eulogy. Uncle Mose. I'm tellin you, Uncle Mose is a hunnud years old. He-he-he comes for a visit. Took, took two years! Lemme tell bout Uncle Mose . . . Uncle Mose actually came up to marry off his last daughter. It took him so long, he delivered a eulogy instead.

Mose invited me to go fishing. Fish—Fishin Fishin adds a day to your life,son. As a consequence, I go fishinevery day— Uncle Mose was Aunt Mattie's father, my aunty, mother of my former best friend, Wheeler. Think cuz he grew four inches, he too high and mighty. They all lived next door to Mamoo, my grandma . . . Wheeler's mama is sister to James who is married to Dee who is sister to my grandmamma Mamoo and her sister Lizzie, who is Uncle Mose' second wife. WHEW! I'm related to everybody IN Argo. My family is what you call tight-knit. Lotta lotta lotta of duh-double first cousins. Mamoo 'sponsible for bringing half of em up here. All workin for ARGO STARCH! Mama branched out. Moved to Chi-CAH-Go! Even after that, we were in Argo EVERY Sunday! Takin m'grandson, Wheeler.Cain't b'lieve my baby girlgotta boy this big.I guess I could use anothernephew—or two.

[End Page 651] Miss Mamie and Bo I'm very serious. YOU DO NOT LOOK AT THEM Yeah, okay. Mail come yet? Are you even listening to me? May may mayb-be I-I duh-duh-DUH double paid the bill at the Fair Store . . . Hey, you'll have a credit. You could use it to get some stuff for my trip. No. I said, no. Okay, okay okay okay! I-I-I-I puh- promise, I won't look at them . . . Look, my eyes are closed. [End Page 654] Duh-Don't Look "Duh-Don't look."Mah-mama duh-don't know.I'm from Chicago!Girl watchin—in the summuh?Wear a brother out!You die and go to heaven every day! Ow!A national pastime.In the summer, the girls bloom like flowuhs, man!Tulips, roses, daffodils. Bluebells, buttercups, Venus fly traps!I step out. Hair pressed flat, pants line pat. A ripple and a sheen, with a dip that'smean! . . .

I met this this this guh-guh-girl, lah-last muh muh May. Of of all puh-places, Argo!Church went up to a carnival . . . Hel-looooooh Heluise! I bought a ticket at the carnival to ride on the thing.We was standing in line, getting on two by two, Noah's ark.I'm movin right along beside her, countingto make sure weWe end up together in the same car. And!Curtis jumps the line!I-I-I push past him just as the car starts up, Pow! Our own kah,an aerial carriage.Chains rattle the seat as we guh-get to goin'She draws close.One hand round my, round my girl.Then then then it started started up.Up up up we went, up up up to the very topand you're praying yes, yes, yes and it stops at the very top.The stars out, carnival lights below, the carriage swinging in the breeze.Way up where no one could see. Wooo-Weeee! Just her and me—and— Mama wants to go on a road trip. I tell you, I had to write the girl a letter.

[End Page 655] Heluise! "Dear Heluise, I am not coming out in Argo Saturdaybecause my mother wants me to go to Detroit." I liked when I was out there and we went out to that carnival.Cutest little thing.Beautiful brown skin.Like a piece uh milk chocolate.Long pretty hair . . . Met a little girl named Heluise. Wrote her a letter to be my squeeze. Sorry baby, I can't come to town, But I sure wanna see you girl, next time I'm around, Remember M, remember E, Put em both together so you'll remember me, You're the last thing that I see, pretty girl, Hey, pretty baby, remember me, Emmett Louis Till from Chicago Buh-buh but you can call me Buh-buh-buh Bobo! Wanna know the truth?We finished the ride, I stood up there.All I could say was, "Bye." Now how how how not not cool could you be? Haven't heard back from her yet.Only been three months.But I will. Put two carnival tickets in the envelope. Labor Day weekend. Church picnic. You know a cat's got nine lives . . .

[End Page 656] Miss Mamie and Bo I can't teach him to be a man. I kept workin' on her. Got Uncle Mose to talk to her . . . "A summer in the South to make him strong." Fingers all bent over like a tree. "Fish, Fish . . . Fisherman's Paradise." Growing up too fast.I watched him as he shopped.Hair on his lip, that's new.Leaning on the glass counter.Stand up straight, Emmett.I worried about his bones being soft, you know,Stand up straight, Emmett. Mah-Mama, that's my leeeeeeannnn . . . He still favored that leg.He spent all of this money—insisting on a wallet— What? What do you think?What you need uh? The pictures?New wallet? And— Hedy Lamarr or Dorothy Lamour?new shoes Mah! Kicks! New shoes.White shoes, Bo?! White Bucks! Like Louie, Louie Jordan! . . . Bo-bo-bo Diddley? . . . Johnnie Ace! Puh-Pat B-Boone!

I know you know THAT one!He's hummin' some tune You made, Ump-UMP! Me cry, Ump-UMP! When you said, Ump-UMP! Goodbye Ain't That a Shay-ay-ay-amePulls me into this dance The Bop, Mama, the bopRight in the department—I My tears fell like rain!Mess around, Madison! [End Page 657] I can't do that stuff. just walk with me then . . .White buck shoes You broke, Ump-UMP!"like Pat Boone." My heart, Ump-UMP!I don't know what you think When you said, Ump-UMP!you're gonna do with them We'd partin the fields of Mississippi. Ain't it uh— I got loafers for that. Bucks for dress. Travellin shoes. New socks, too. New socks! Emmett! Can't wear new shoes with old socks. Can't wear suede kicks with cotton. White shoes with white socks? And what you need with three toothbrushes? Two for the smile. One for the soles. Mah! Bucks! Tuh tuh tuh BRUSH em.

B-b-bristles got to be SOFT though. What am I going to do with youBobo?What on earth?Where did you get that hat?What kind of a hat is that? Brim upturned, Blonde Panama straw, With a green exotic feather, Still say Caw, cuh-cuh, CAW CAW CAW! Just where did you get all of this money? A woman does not ask such things of a gentleman . . . Twenty-five from you. Twenty from Gene. He GAVE it to me! Made the rest on groceries. Errands and stuff Just stuff [End Page 658] I would trade all the riches that the world evuh knew/Why? Fuh just one moment with you/ Why? An ole greasy meal on a hot afternoon/ Why? Sittin on a warm summer stoop . . . Listenin to your favorite rekkud, swingin wid your girl—But I got places to GO! Walk wid me. Step! How much do you have altogether? A nickel and a nail. Duh duh don't worry bout it. I set aside how much I'mo spend. Two Parts Strong, and strong willed . .

.I had spoiled him.My only son.Stocky as a stevedore. Part lion, part bird. Two part god, one part man! Humble yourself. G-git on your knees. Puh-puh-please! Hey, I ain't from the South. I'm from the South Siiiiiide! July 25th. Just turned—Fifteen!FOURTEEN!I decided I decidedHe could go. I was goin'!It'll be good for him Good for both of us. Freedom! [End Page 659] "L.T." . . . I gave him that ring.It was just layin' in his jewelry box . . .He was looking for some cuff linksand picked it up. He never took it off Is this the ring? Yes, that's the ring,with your father's initials on it.I told him.Your fatherDied on the European front, 1945.A veteran of the African and Italian campaigns. Louis Till."L.T., Casablanca, 1943 . . ."Here's lookin at you, kid messages . . .

Messages from the brain.From the brain to the muscle.The messages stop and the muscles go dead—Muh-My Emmett is going to be okay.He is a fighter! He loves life! My Bo.He wasn't gonna be tall.But he was handsome.Golden in the summer. And proud. I couldn't get him to go in the water. I'm a Leo.He'd say. Cats don't like water.But really it was that leg. Long pants make everybody equal . . . [End Page 660] He hated to get up early, hated to be awakened.Worn out by his adventure in dreams.The light piercing his eyes.He was always so rude in the morning.Hating to be brought back from sleep. Sometimes I would have to go up thereTwo or three times. Emmett. Wake up.You're going to be late.Emmett Till, don't make me come back there!You the one wanted to go so bad.Clompin around in those shoes.You're gonna miss your train!Got your bags?Your money?Stand up straight.Wiggle your toes and ankles. Mah, I had the weirdest dream last night.What was it? Cain't remember now. Oh wait! Yeah.

Dreamed—I dreamed a Star fell from the sky Like a—M-Mountain, it toppled over and struck me and that the boulders caught my feet (so's) I couldn't move my legs. And. I got scared. Then this (strange) man came out (of nowhere, out of a) a glaring (white) white light. A stranger. And he gave me (some) some water to drink, Calmed me down. And and and I wasn't scared No no no no more. Then he set my feet upright. Dream of the Seeker. Kept going, though. The sky cracked thunder and day, daylight dis-disappeared! (there was) Lightning and big ol' fire balls and (the) clouds (were) thick and dark and ROLLIN!! [End Page 661] Emmett, it's too earlyin the mornin' for all that.People tryin to sleep. Then it began to rain. I looked looked looked around me And and and Everywhere the rain fell it it (it) turned to ashes. You know how dreams are (sometimes) . . .Probably that corn you insisted on eatinglast night—too much pepper. It's my specialty.

Pepper Corn. [End Page 662] 8:01 What'd I juss tell you? He can't help himself, Grandpa. [End Page 666] Mind what I say! The both of you. Get up to the station. Act respectful. You don't speak to white folk. Don't even look at em. "Mind now." Sixteen hour they was on the ride From early in the morning to the dark of night, Rear car, City of New Orleans Train windows lit up like a movie screen, New pants, new hat in hand, Son of promise from the promise land, Emmett Till, Emmett Till, Emmett Till Why cain't you be still? Seben days, seben days . . . [End Page 667] kah ride There ain't no radio in the kah. Only one radio.Uncle Crosby's.And he don't letnobody listen tonothing but theballgame. We could make some music.I-I-I was pretty guh good at singingtil they kicked me out the choir. Lawd, today. Mississippi! . . . The delta, far as the eye can see.Flat, fertile, serene.

Emerald ocean, white caps of cotton.Sweat sittin' on you like skin. What else could you ask for? Any possibility you could be quiet for a couple of minutes? Uncle Mose. My teacher asked me the same question.Big Maybelle, that's what we call her, put me on trial.Say, Emmett Till, what will it take for you to shut up?I say, Miss Jenkins, it would take the whole worldto tell me to shut up.I have problems without talking.I know I tuh-tuh-tuh-t-t-talk too much. Sit over to the window, then. Enjoy the scenery. Simeon, let Bobo look out the window for a bit. Aw man . . . ow, move, shoot. [End Page 669] . . . Look at the highway signs . . . "The Land that Time Forgot." "Muh-most Southern Place on Earth." "A Good Pl-Place to Raise a Boy.""Hog for Sale."Man, is that a chain gang?!I thought that was only in the movies! Burlap bags. People bent over.

We drive off a two-lane to a one lane to a gravel road to a dirt road to, you know, a trail,wild flowers poppin me in the face out the window. Frame house, sweet grass. Cow. Wuh-wuh-Wolf! It's just Dallas, Bobo She don't bother nobody . . . if you stand still. [End Page 670] Sunday Dinner Sunday dinnera dance of arms,passing bowls and talk,Everyone else pushed away from the table.I'm still eatin.Aunty Liz, whatever you fix,ain't nothing I won't eat.Th-th-thAT was duh-downrightdelicious!Down at Aunty LizzesThe men get served! I see you have a healthy appetite, nephew. Never seen him turn nothing down. It's all good. You gon eat that? That fish we caught right hereLake Neverfail. Lake Neverfail—when the water low, headed toward Sumner,toward the east where the lake a little deeper. Uncle Mose, I gotta confess,last time I went fishin, caught mea big old nasty catfish. Musta beenthis big!It was so muddy, I went to wash it offin the creek.

You know what happened after that! Catch em with jars down here. I'll show you. Simeon. Always serious. Gotta beat the water, though. For the snakes. Swimmin in the river. You beat the waters. Run the snakes out. See their little heads swimming round. Folks said if you beat the water, Snakes wouldn't come round. Found out different. Pulled a guy out, snakes all over him . . . So what are all my fine fellahshavin for dessert?We got cherry pie and melon. [End Page 671] Aunty Liz, I-I—I We had a melon patchfor a while. Borrowed from our neighbor.One time he put powder or something on em'We thought, what's he trying to do, poison somebodyover a watermelon? Pie sounds good. Aunty LizPie sounds real good.Let me help you with that. [End Page 672] Aunty Liz Aunty Liz, you even whiter than my grandma Mamoo.I didn't think that was possible.You an Uncle Mose likeSalt n Peppuhfuh real! I'll cut the pie, you cut the melon.

Think you can handle that?. . . How's your Mama doin? P-Pretty good. Goin on a road trip with Gene.A barber in the neighborhood.Real sweet on Mama.She thinks it'sthe real thing. What do you think? I like the way he cuts my hair.LeMorris was okay. Took us to the lake.But that last sucker, Pink. I had to put him out.Come to the door threatening, layin a hand to her.I grabbed a knife out the kitchen and said, Pink,you gone have to leave.He say "Oh you gon cut me, you gon cut me?"I say, Maybe.Just cus you m-married my Mama don't m-make you my daddy.I'm the man of this house.I'm like twelve!He looked like he was gon start at me.I just stared at him, and and he backed away and left. My, weren't you scared? Funny thing—Not til aftuh. [End Page 673] Salt n Peppuh Why the good women always go for the bad man,Aunty Liz? Oh I wouldn't say that. Your mama was just inexperienced. With life. Sheand My Sister do like their husbands, though.

A woman don't know enough to know a good one to start. You git one, you just . . . lucky. Auntie Liz n Uncle MoseLike salt n seppuh! Not all women like the bad men. You have to meet a good one. Like me and this fellah. I saw this short, dark, baldheaded old man and fell in love. He told me he was a farmer. I said. I don't know nothing bout pickin no cotton.Don't matter. He say. Get out here and cotton as far as the eye can see. And he told me I didn't need to know. I thought he was the real thing. "Mr. Right." That's right, that's right. Told me I didn't need to knowStill don't know nothin bout it. Nothing bout cotton.Still don't know nothin bout it. I know how to fix these meals,Nowwww— keep this house for all these men,Aw ain't callin for alla that. not one of you pick up aAlways ex-exaggeratin' . . dish but to dirty it—and— [End Page 674] Ruthie May Du-WAH! A couple of weeks.

WHO put that HAT on the TABLE?! —BOY! Don't you know not to do THAT! The table's where they lay out the corpse,You set yoah hat on it, you set your own course,Like two faces inna mirror, someone gon die,Someone gon die . . . Well, I best be going. I can walk you. I can walk you. I can walk you. I'm just across the way . . . Plenty time for moonbeams . . . Early start tomorrow. Wheeler and Maurice sleep up front. Bobo to share with Simmy. Early start in the morning . . . [End Page 676] beddin down Alma still bringing people up Alma, Alma, Alma. Always gotta habYou see how nice the boys dress What your sister Alma got. I got youSchoolin. Wheeler go to school Uh new washing machine—Same as the white folk. You know Still wringin' me out'How bad off that family was Work twenty-foah hours seven days?Now living in a brick house Cain't I have some peace . . . In my own house?! I move to Chicago, what I'mo do?

I'm a farmer, Lizabeth. You knew that when you married me. I got thirty acres of prime delta land to work. Best yield in ten years. I made $2,000 in '46. With the extra help, me and Mr. Fredricks settle up, I can double that. You a dreamer Mose Wright Maybe, but I wanna see this boy get up foah inna mornin. You, too. Bobo . . . She dress that boy like he her husband Ain't got the sense of a jack rabbit. (No, no leave it down so I can play with it.) Boy, what'd I tell you? Go on t'sleep now! Simmy I got the window, BoboAfter work tomorrow,we could go swimming inna catch basin.After we beat the watuh . . . Nice ring. One of a kind. My Dad's. See there, L.T. Louis Till. 1943. Made in Casablanca! Here's lookin at you, kid. Wanna try it on?Sure! I put the tape on it so it'd stay on. Say!

Better go on to sleep.You can have the window.I'll give it back tomorruh. [End Page 677] Monday Okay, okay, okay. You ever have one of those experiences,you really really really really wish for something,then you get it and wonderwhat was I thinkin?!"What I Did This Summer:My Experience—Pick-Pick-Pickin Cotton" Uncle Mose come wakin us. Boys, boys, boys. Mornin. I didn't need no watch. It was still night!Simeon jumps up beside me. Papa done called twice. Third time you gotta go. Don't let the fire ants git you. They be small, but if the come up your leg, you gone come out all your clothes. Work! Till sun up, sun down,Come around, come around,Work! Till sun up, sun down,Come around, come around [End Page 678] , Cotton Early inna morning, goin' to the fields. Let me paint the picture. Summer time, when the cotton is high. Late late August . . . Everybody out there. Anyone comes to visit. Had to go to work. People bent over.

Dirt. Dry brown husks get under your nails. Like wrestling a cloud from some bird claws. Trucks go by, loaded with bales, little whiffs come out. I'm out in that sun, a damp shirt just waitin' for the steam iron. You hear, almost hear voices, the song, blowin on you like breath. Hey, you wanna look like you doin some woyk? Work! Till sun up, sun down,Come around, come around, Sun up sun down come around come uh . . . See this here? This what you call short haired cotton. We spozed to fill up this sack with a bunch of these and take it over to that truck. Then gon drive it to the gin. Git it cleaned up. It's got trash in it now, it's got sticks in it, the seed, the seed still in it. At the gin, they gon clean it up. The cotton part go to make our clothes. Made they overalls. My shirt is the fine cotton. They don't grow that here. But see this? The seed they gon use to make oil. That go into your soda pop and your cookies.

And the the trash, this here, the trash go into your dollah bills. Pick a bale pick a bale pick a bale of cotton—eh-eh-everytime you bending down, you you pickin up money. Hah! Time you fill up that sack, you a rich man. Time you fill up, you be uh old man, too. You got to bend down and bend down and—ARGH!!!!!! BUH-BUH-BUH BUH BUH! SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP! Bats. Forgot to tell you bout that.They sleep up under there where it's cool. Cuh-COOL?! Hahaha! Thank you, Simmy. That's it, I'm I'm I'm I'm thoo. Hey, from now on, only c-ccotton I'm pickin is a Cutip. Nuh-no joke! We usually work, twenty minutes of sunlight left. Sun to sun. Bobo only went into the field one day. Monday! One day! One half a day! It's it's too hot. Auntie Liz, I'm dyin' out here!

Bugs flyin' in my eyes, thinkin' they leaves. Maybe I can help around the house. [End Page 679] Wednesday Call me stout. Stocky maybe. Husky. I can get with that, Auntie Liz. Mama says it's the Choctaw in me. More like pork chops. My favorite—salt in pepper, dipped into a little milk then the flour, shake in a big grocery bag to give the chop plenty of room to flip, make the flour light. Turn the skittle up til the grease be sizzlin'. We havin chicken tonight. Can you manage that pot of water?Bring it on out here. Which one we havin for dinner? Wuh-wuh-What? The chickens. Go on and git one.Git wh-what?? Aunty Liz, I can't even catch a softball. How I'mo catch a chicken?I-I-I-I need you to show me what to do . . . That woman stomped out there, grabbed one of them suckers by the throat, swung it round from the elbow, slapped her knee on a stump of a tree and WHOMP snapped off its head.

Let it go floppin and hoppin round. Chicken with its head cut off, that's for real! Like it was comin' after you. You need to pluck em like this . . . Hey, I'll pluck a chicken any day over pickin cotton.But, she act like I'm spozed to eat that?! . . . . . . . . . . It was Gooooooooooooooood.Besides, give me a chance to see Ruthie May . . . Had to return the pan . . . Pan dance! Ruthie Oh Miss Ruthie May A bit of sunshine on a clear bright day Smellin' of Brilliantine and starch, Glowin' of Dixie Peach and lard, Just carryin' a flat brown package bound in twine, Waves and curls in a crown that shined, Matched the black marble diamonds in her eye . . . eye! Hi. There your pan. Pop the hood. Here come Simeon and Wheeler. Emmett, the ring. It's too big. Can't pick cotton with it. Don't see how people wear all that jewelry. Papa went on up to the church, didn't take the Kah.

What's wrong with the Kah? Distributor, my guess. Maybe gasket. (Look at em, torsos buried neath the roof of that old Kah like some kinda ugly spider. I come out. And for what? All of em hunched over that ol Kah. Reading the entrails for signs of life.) [End Page 681] kah ride I told Preacher, told him he needed to replace it.Then he gon deliver the sermon on the mount. "Behold ! And I wil show wondersin the heavens and in the earth,blod and fire and pilars of smoke !" Stop! Don't make fun of Papa. BOOM! You see Bobo doin' that dance with that pan? [End Page 683] Oh MissRuthie, Miss Ruthie May . . .Ruthie May, Ruthie May! Simeon!Stay to the side of the road. Ain't no cars comin, Ruthie. Say Bobo, wanna go swimming tomorrow? Sho why not . . .(Up the creek anyway,)Creature of the Black Lagoon . . . Black Bayou? A rush of sound, the train speeds throughWHEWWW!

[End Page 684] That Yellah Dawg! Train wheel rattle the plates onna shelf,Rattle her nerves, she beside herself,Train wheel rollin, movin real fast,Every twelve minute it shoot right past, Movin on out, but goin nowhere,Her man done gone, an just left her there,Bettuh look out fuh the warnin signs,Tracks all wrangled, cars all outta line, (Or there shoah gon be a wreck this time,) Whistle done blowed, duh bell done rung,Train done left and her man done goneLawd, Lawd, Lawd,Here come that Yellah Dawg! [End Page 685] money We here! "Bryant Grocery & Meat Market" Post office. Filling station and a store. All in one. Old man playin' checkuhs. Train time . . . Lawd, Lawd, Here come that Yellah Dawg! Train time! CLAK CLAK CLAK" "WHO WANTS TO PLAY?" Bunch of folks on the stoop, White lady inside, none too happy. That Miss Bryant.

I won't have no money til Satdiewhen I get paid. [End Page 687] It's just bubble gum. Fuh the next game of checkuhs, I got yuh covered . . . Ruthie Mayspozed to be my hook-up. Well, hook her up then . . . We go in, Wheeler and me. Buh-buh . . . Bubble gum, please. They two fuh uh pinny. Gimmeeeee, gimme five. We don't sell five, it's two fuh uh pinny. Shoot, two for a penny? I'll take . . . twenty. I slap the dime on the counter, She puts out her hand He put the dime on the counter He put the dime on the counter She put out her hand I put out my hand He put out his hand She put out her handHe put the dime on the counter He put the dime on the counter She put out her handI put out my hand He put out his hand She put out her hand He put the dime on the counter I put out my hand She G-got any jujubees? What? Juju buh. Don't tuh-tell me!

Oh mm-man! Bye. Who wants sweets, my treat! Workin' that gum, kinda old Smick-smack, smick-smack . . . Best watch yourself. This ain't— She comes out. Smick-smack smick-smack smick-smack ((((o) [End Page 688] (o))))))) SHhh! What you doin whistlin'? What you doin' there! Git in the Kah. Git in! She runnin to they Kah. SHhh—! Oh Lawd! What? She goin to get a gun! She got a gun?! JESUS! Git in the Kah! [End Page 689] nothin' at all You never know what. You can look at somebody. You can be in the wrong place. You can know something you not suppose to know. You can owe em something. They can want sompin you got. It can be anything. You can paint your house. Ask a question. Anything. Or nothing. Nothin at all. Oh man . . . First time into town. I can't believe it. Why he did that? Out of the blue. You said don't speak.

Maybe they'll forget about it. . . . We'll see. We'll wait and see. Make sure everything's all right. You should send him off.I know these people.We'll hear more of this. You could know something, Or step out of your place You could owe something Or just be in the wrong place They can want sompin You could look em wrong inna face You could say something And be the end of your days Could be something big, Could be something small Could be nothing, nothing at all. Not one of the sons told they Pa about it,Thursday come they forgot about it . . . Not one of the sons told they Pa about it, Thursday come they forgot about it . . . [End Page 691] Thursday Baseball, Mississippi-Type And Bobo steps up to the plate.Come on, let me see you run home. You can make it. Still joogin me from last summer. You ain't never gon let me forget that, is you? Strike one. Why? Pick me, pick me, pick me . . .Boing, boing . . . boing. You the funny one now. Aw'ight. Just catch the ball, aw'ight?

All the pretty girls lined up.We playin the boys cross town.Hyeah he come. Last inning, two out.Bobo's at bat. They throw the ball, he swings— Strike two. The the the BIGNESS of it, the wholeness of it. I wanna do things. I wanna see things. I wanna feel things. I wanna know things! I-I-I-I-I. Want, want, want . . . Cherish what you have, son. What you got. I seen a wall of flesh, seven deep, nine across, terrible winds, buildings blown like branches, people hung to trees, just leafless twigs. They put us to work on the levy—knowing we would be swept away. And when the water began to wash over, they made us to lie down and form a human levy of a hundred men. The high water come, drownin men, the pressure, squeezing the life out th' others. Bodies buried in the clay. Children, women, strong men, all the same. Gone. Lost . . . I wanted to bring them back. I wanted to make them whole. My people swept away, swept away, swept away.

All the time, over and over, swept away—torn from they land, torn from each other—I was not gonna let that happen. I was gonna hold this ground. I was gonna plant myself, right here. I would not be moved. This land was promised. We worked it. We earned it. I thought I'mo lose it again. I can't. I can't. I prayed for an answer. A sign. How [End Page 696] I'mo do this? Then Here you come. The Seeker. Till . . . Till . . . The tiller of— . . . Look at the strong man who wants life. Everything! Can't even stay awake with me. Watch. New pants n shoes. Red soles. Mister Freedom. Best get your ride hooked up early. [End Page 697] Saturday Trip to Greenwood . . . headin' "east" Just us fellahs. Still in the back seat, but least Got a window. Maurice drivin', Wheeler stretchin out his legs again. Simmy beside me chattin' up the breeze. A dollah's six months worth of fun. Satdie we work for ourselves.

Everything we make, we each get to keep. I got foah dollahs. highest I ever got. Maurice has the asthma, so he didn't do that much. We let him drive. He Mama's favorite. Like you not daddy's favorite. So? Saturday. Nothin like Saturday night in Mississippi! Greenwood. Think we country folk Cuz they work in the town. Man! I can't wait to get me some money. Doin what? Going to the military. Get outta these cotton fields. Four brothers already in the military. Doin' pretty good. Yeah? What you gon do? I'ma be a bad man, then I gon get Saved! See what the Lord has in store . . . We just passin through. My destination's heaven. I'mo be a barber. A barber. Wheeler cut his own hair. He he hebe lookin in the mirror like this, I tried [End Page 698] mannnn, Looked like I had the ringworm.Had tuh, had tuh wear my hat for a week.Mama say, Take that hat off in this house, young man!

Bobo mama work downtown for the white man, Secret Service, classified. Only colored woman up there. He goin' to college. I don't know all that. Know I'm I'm I'mnot gonna have no job, gon be on my own.Not gonna work for nobody. Gonna work for myself.Maybe I'll be inna movies. Maybe I'll be the first colored man on teevee!May—may may may buh-be I'll I'll I'll stand up and tuh-tell jokes, I don't know. A colored man telling jokes on teevee? Better be funny. [End Page 699] The Four-Fifths Simeon, you go on wid Pa. But—Naw! But . . . I didn't want to go in that juke no way. Hole inna wall. People get killed every Saturday night.No liquor! I know. Just beer . . . a little beer. The men walk the street. Gentlemen, the Four-Fifths. We walk on in. I am dressed to the nines.Ivy League—belt in the back. Cuban heels.White bucks, crepe soles. Saturday Night.Whole room movin.

Timbers flexed.Floorboards rockin fore you in the doah.Gold teeth. Green suit. Buh-Blues. I gotta keep movin I gotta keep movin Blues fallin down like hail Blues fallin down like hail Umm mmmm mmm mmmmmm Blues fallin down like hail Blues fallin down like hail And the days keeps on worryin me There's a hellhound on my trail hellhound on my trailhellhound on my trail I don't like the blues. Try it. WheelerAlways danceWith your hat in your hand.Never put it down.Blocked in the middle.Brim to the side. We weren't raised like this . . .All this freedom. Drive a car.Smoke a Marlboro. Drink some !!! Whew! [End Page 700] You sposed to drink for effect. Not for taste. White lightnin! Whew-wee! You could buy beer at twelve in MissississississsiDuh-don't even consider it likkuh. I shoulda said something when I had the chance. Instead I mighta lost out on my one true romance . . . Seems like holes inna ground. Come on.

I don't want him buried down there! The Shed Be not afraid or dismayedThe battle is not yours, but God'sTwo parts god, one part man I am Not going to die For what? he say.Bring him ovuh here.Hold him up. Hey, hey. H.L., H.L. right?You know, there only five or six of them,three of us. He don't look too tough,just big. Big ol' Philistine.I kin take out one of em—eachEach of you take the other.We we we guh-gotta chance. Just just shut up. You good as dead. You think they gon let you go,you see them kill me? Smart nigguh.We got us a smart nigguh.They let you go to school, boy? [End Page 713] Yeah. American History.Turn to page two. The Civil War.The South lost!Come on, it was a joke, man.I-I-I-I-I got some good jokes.Wait wait wait wait wait wait wait—Mamahhhhhhh! Viewing Emmett . . .Where are you when I need you?I have to do this by myself? Lord, take my soul . . .What! .

. . is that smell? After three days in the water . . . The boy was in the river for three days? Mr. Rayner . . . That's going to mean advanceddecomposition of the body. Mrs. Bradley, Mrs. Bradley. We've been advised not to unseal the box. Mr. Rayner, if you don't open that box, I will get a crow bar and open it myself. I need to see my child . . . What is this? [End Page 714] The Shed Mamah!Help somebody!Where you takin' me? Mama ain't gon help you.Ain't nobody gon help you.Ain't nobody gon know you ever existed.Tonight, baby boy we gon dance. Dance, dance, dance . . .W-w-W-w-W-w-W-w-((o)) ((o)) . . . wh . . .What is this? Please, please, Mr. Milam. He just a boy. Goddam it, nigguh, shut the fuck up!

Cuh, cuh cuh Come on, man.You gon let this white man taw-taw-talkto you like that?Why aren't you listening to me?!Why aren't you lookin' at me? You the nigga did all that talk. Talk, talk, talk, that's what I do. I'll talk to anybody, even you! Say sompin!Say sompin else!Come down heretalkin' to our women,thinkin' bout casting a vote,going to school wid our kids,walking down the street or takin a piss,you don't do it! You don't do nothin' withoutaskin from me! You got that? YOU got that nigguh? What? [End Page 715] This child called from Zion,Too young, too young to know bout dyin', This child who had everything in life,Stolen in the dark of night, And murdered fore the morning light,It ain't right, ain't right, ain't right, We not gon take it no more, no, not!This time!

We stand up and fight, we make it rightThis time— So I want you to stop, I say, stop your cryin',Cuz this child was called from Zion, In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,The waters rocked and the thunder rolled, But the muddy waters couldn't hold his soul,Like my blessed Lord, though though though Though crucified,He say, I rise, I rise, I rise, I rise! I rise,But his journey, I say his journey wasn't done, It it it was a long, long journey only just begun,Life flashed before him like windows on a train, Emmett Till, Emmett Till was his name— "Verily I say unto you whatsoever you bind on earth,shall be bound in heaven and and and whatsoeverye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven!" [End Page 717] St. Lawrence Avenue A whistle. Killed that poor boy for nuthin. Should never have let them take that boy out the house. Should never uh let him go down there. Alma, I have not words . . . You seen . . . Lizabeth?

My sistuh don't wanna talk to you, don't wanna lay eyes on you. Give her time, Uncle Mose. She doesn't mean that. I was posed to make him a man. Gon see now, can he make one of me. Liz been tryin to get me up North. I'm gon testify at that trial, sell my cotton and go. I'll be right there with you. Lord, Jesus, Mamie! You can't be thinking of goin down to that court? They will kill you. Mama . . . This is MY SON.

[End Page 718] can you tell us how you The first time I saw it, it was still in the casketThen I saw it later after it was placed on a slabI positively identified the bodyI knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I looked at the face very carefullyI looked at the ears, and the foreheadand the hairline, and also the hair And I looked at the nose and the lips and the chinThis is a picture of the body as I saw it, yes This is the way I saw him the second timeHe had his clothes put on his body thenWhen I saw him the first timehe didn't have on any clothes Was the first view I had of my son therebefore the clothes were put on the bodylike in the photograph shown here? The face, yes Mom. My legs. I cuh-can't mmmove? It's all right. You rest now. No WAY! I can't. I can't. Yes, you can, yes. Yes, you can. It's all right . . . all right.

I-I-I-I can't be dyin'.I—MM-MMM Emmett Till.I'm I'm I'm a Seeker.That's what you said, that's what you said. . . . . . What is it you seek?. . . Everything . . . Huh [End Page 721] whistlin' (((o)))) Mama (like to) say she taught meMr. Spears say it was speech class,Whistling he say-zuhTo discipline our mouths. Wanna know the truth?Learned it from a bird. All kinda whistles: two fingerwarbleexclamationadmirationpunctuationthey got all kinda whistleswhistle stopwhistling arrowwhistling duckwhistling frogwhistling mothwhistle in the windwhistle a happy tunePOlicewhistling Dixieall kinda whistleswhat kind you want? The Shed This what you get!For thinking you white!When you ain't nuthin'! Muh muh mannn muh muh mamoo my grandmama white white—wh You in my land. You will do as I say.Think you good as a white man,you ready to die! Mu-maybe we . . .

Muh-maybe . . . we cousins— I Am I-I-I am ALL that I am . . . MMM-MMM was speakin I don't know what & Sayin Like a movie, you know, no Saw something imp mmm Know you've seen Seein a blink blink of an eye eye eye eye eye I-I-I am MMM-MMM still Emmett Till! . . . Egungun, egungun, egungungun . . . Look at him. Squealin' like a squelched pig! [End Page 723] I seen men die in battle. Men wrench under torture,men die, but not one who refused to . . .He just kept makin jokes. Lawd, Jeesus! Some jokes, Okay, okay. Ole Guy. Oh! He wouldn't stop talking. You? That's what I do. Tah-tah-tah-t-talk. Just say what they want . . . Please. Die nigguhs, die nigguhs, die! Say what they want and they'll let you go. God Almighty. You gotta get this body outta here. J.W. What the— Shut up, brother.

Ev'body just hush.Back the truck to the doah.Henry Lee, You and Too Tight.Git the tarp out in wrap him up in't. Mr. Sheridan find this out, we're shot! Calm down, Leslie. Leslie. I need to think. Two parts god, one part manI am that I amNot going to dieTonight . . .Duh-dark . . . cuh-cuh-cuh-c . . . oldDaylight! Sink him in the bayou.Plenty of em down'ere for company.Too Tight, H.L., grab that tarp and wrap him up in it. Gotta get outta here. Gotta get up from here. Sink with what? You switch out that broke fan at the gin?Drive by Glendora. Take him over there.Just put him in the truck and gather up them clothes.Just couldn't stop talkin' [End Page 724] . . . duh-don't . . .Put him out his misery . . . Boss, I . . . . . .I dreamed you gave me some water [End Page 725] ascension One part God, two part man. . .

Got to get up—make up your mindDon't worry about this no more. . . Father . . . help me. One part God, two part man. . . Got to get up—make up your mind.Don't worry about this no more. . . Father . . . help me.The Lord is my light, salvation, whom shall I fear?Wicked, my enemies, my foes?I got my best suit, shirt, tie, shoes.Best face on. Let me make it to your House.Make me smile. Make me dance. Stand up straight.Light to the light. I will not die tonight!You think you stole my life?But like all the saints will tell you,I rise, I rise, I Daylight! Like the sun had just broke through the clouds, I could see . . .Mo biya ka bo . . . Mo be yah KAH bo Daylight!

[End Page 726] crossing When you walk through the fire, I will be there, too,When you stand to the tyrant, I'll be right beside you,When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,When you cross o'er the Jordan, I'll be waitin' for you, When you walk through the fire, (He said) I will be there, too,When you stand to the tyrant, (He said) I'll be right beside you,When you pass through the waters, (He said) I will be with you,When you cross o'er the Jordan, I'll be waitin' for you . . . [End Page 727] Miss Mamie and Bo New suit . . . traveling shoesA dog barks in the distanceThe rumble of the ElThe sounds of the cityAwakeningTo breathe, smell, taste, touch . . .The breeze on your face by the lake, the wind . . .Oh I would sleepYet, awakened from the dream, I weepFor every battle I did winthe world would collapse again . . .I walk in the night fallenThe sky on my headEmmett Till . . .

You will live forever!When you died—the world woke upPeople streamin', marchin', fightin' for justiceFreedom Summer! Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham . . .Righteousness Rolled Down like a Mighty Stream! It was like the riverUnleashed, hurlin' in a wave of Glory! Changing forever, everything in its path! I would trade all the riches that the world evuh knew Why?Fuh just one moment with you Why?An ole greasy meal on a hot afternoon Why?Sittin on a warm summer stoop . . . Listenin to your favorite rekkud, swingin wid your girl—Exchange it all for one moment—of—LIFE! Why?To breathe, smell, taste, touch. But . . .Wherever I set my feet, there is Death Immortality. Justice. A new world.It is warm? It is warm. There is light? There is light. It is safe? It is safe. It is done? [End Page 728]

Question: What type of creature is an Emmett?
Answer: Ant